中菲围绕民主礁的争议升温。中国南部战区于8月1日在民主礁领海、领空和周边海空域组织海空联合演训[1]。随后三亚海事局发布航行警告，宣布8月3日至7日每天上午5时至午夜12时、8月8日上午7时至晚上6时禁止驶入相关训练区域[1]。该军事训练区位于海南岛南方外海，距离民主礁约900公里[1]。
此前菲律宾外交部于7月31日向联合国秘书处递交了民主礁及周边海域的官方海图[1]。中国外交部同日晚间发表声明，表示坚决反对、绝不接受[1]。中国解放军报于8月2日刊文指出，此次演训是"针对个别域内国家破坏地区和平稳定的必要行动"[1]。
Tensions over Second Thomas Shoal escalated as China's Southern Theater Command organized a combined naval and air exercise on August 1 in the territorial waters, airspace, and surrounding maritime zones of the shoal.[1] Following the drills, the Sanya Maritime Safety Administration issued a navigation warning on the same day, prohibiting vessels from entering designated areas between August 3 and 8, with specific time restrictions each day—5 a.m. to midnight from August 3 to 7, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 8.[1] The military training zone is located in the offshore waters south of Hainan Island, approximately 900 kilometers away from Second Thomas Shoal.[1]
The military operations came in response to the Philippines' submission of an official sea chart of Second Thomas Shoal and surrounding waters to the United Nations Secretariat on July 31 to assert its maritime baseline claims.[1] China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement the same evening firmly opposing and refusing to accept the Philippine action.[1] According to the Liberation Army Daily on August 2, the exercises constituted a necessary measure against certain regional countries' actions that threaten peace and stability in the region.[1]